Kinematic back panel

ABSTRACT

A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a seat having a seat cushion assembly. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat and includes a seatback cushion assembly. A polymeric hard back panel is operably coupled with the seatback and includes a recessed portion. A controlled deformation portion includes a rupture line configured to split during a rear impact collision of the vehicle, resulting in flaps of the controlled deformation portion extending rearward relative to the seatback. The controlled deformation portion is generally concealed from rearward view by a pocket wall.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a vehicle seating assembly,and more particularly to a kinematic back panel for a vehicle seatingassembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Seating assemblies for vehicles typically include a seatback to supportthe back of an occupant in an upright seated position and variousreclined positions. Seatbacks of these vehicle seating assemblies arecommonly designed to support an occupant upon acceleration, change indirection, and collision of the vehicle, such that the seatbacks aresubstantially rigid in construction and can utilize beneficial safetyfeatures.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assemblyfor a vehicle includes a seat having a seat cushion assembly. A seatbackis pivotally coupled with the seat and includes a seatback cushionassembly. A polymeric hard back panel is operably coupled with theseatback and includes a recessed portion. A controlled deformationportion includes a rupture line configured to split during a rear impactcollision of the vehicle, resulting in flaps of the controlleddeformation portion extending rearward relative to the seatback. Thecontrolled deformation portion is generally concealed from rearward viewby a pocket wall.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seatingassembly includes a frame. A seat is operably coupled with the frame andincludes a seat cushion assembly. A seatback is pivotally coupled withthe seat and includes a seatback cushion assembly disposed over aforward portion of the frame. A back panel is operably coupled with arear portion of the frame. The back panel includes an upper aestheticportion. A controlled deformation portion includes a rupture line.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicleseating assembly includes a seat including a seat cushion assembly. Aseatback is pivotally coupled with the seat and includes a seatbackcushion assembly. A back panel is operably coupled with the seatback andincludes an intermediate recessed portion and an upper aestheticportion. A controlled deformation portion includes a rupture line. Thecontrolled deformation portion is generally concealed from rearward viewby a pocket wall.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosurewill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a vehicle seatingassembly of the present disclosure disposed in a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the vehicle seating assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is one configuration of a kinematic back panel of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of a controlled deformationportion of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 3with a pocket;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a deformation portion of thekinematic back panel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of another configuration of akinematic back panel of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 7with a pocket concealing a portion of the kinematic back panel;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG.7;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of one configuration of a kinematicback panel of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG.10 with a pocket concealing a controlled deformation portion of thekinematic back panel; and

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG.10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. However,it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume variousalternative orientations, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in thefollowing specification are simply exemplary embodiments of theinventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specificdimensions and other physical characteristics relating to theembodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top andbottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity oraction from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring orimplying any actual such relationship or order between such entities oractions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variationthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, withoutmore constraints, preclude the existence of additional identicalelements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprisesthe element.

Referring to the embodiment generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-12,reference numeral 10 generally designates a seating assembly for avehicle 12 that includes a seat 14 having a seat cushion assembly 16. Aseatback 18 is pivotally coupled with the seat 14 and includes aseatback cushion assembly 20. A polymeric hard back panel 22 is operablycoupled with the seatback 18 and includes a recessed portion 24. Acontrolled deformation portion 26 includes a rupture line 28 configuredto split during a rear impact collision of the vehicle 12, resulting inflaps 29 of the controlled deformation portion 26 extending rearwardrelative to the seatback 18. The controlled deformation portion 26 isgenerally concealed from rearward view by a pocket wall 30.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle seating assembly 10may be used in any vehicle 12, such as a car, a truck, a van, etc. It isalso contemplated that the concept set forth in this disclosure may beutilized in a front or forward position of the vehicle 12 as well as arear or rearward position of the vehicle 12. The vehicle seatingassembly 10, as illustrated, includes a seat base 40 that is positionedon rail slides 42 to allow fore and aft movement of the vehicle seatingassembly 10 relative to the vehicle 12. The seat 14 is operably coupledwith the seat base 40 and is movable relative thereto, as set forth infurther detail below. In addition, the seatback 18 of the vehicleseating assembly 10 includes a lower lumbar region 42 and an upperthoracic region 44 as well as a head restraint 46. Each of thecomponents of the seatback 18 may be configured for adjustability toproperly support the weight of various occupants inside the vehicle 12.

With reference now to FIG. 2, the illustrated back panel 22 isconstructed from a polymeric material, which may include a high densitypolyethylene or other formable, yet rigid polymer configured to providestructural qualities to the seatback 18. In the illustrated embodiment,the back panel 22 includes sidewalls 23. The recessed portion 24 isgenerally defined in a central portion 50 of the back panel 22. However,it will be understood that the recessed portion 24 may be of varyingsizes, and is not limited to the central portion 50 of the seatback 18.In addition, a pocket 52, as illustrated, is defined between a backsurface 54 of the back panel 22 proximate the recessed portion 24 and aninner surface 56 of the pocket wall 30. The pocket 52 may be of varyingsizes and may also include sub-pockets disposed within an area of thepocket 52. Fastening apertures 58 engage with features on the pocketwall 30 to secure the pocket wall 30 to the back surface 54 of the backpanel 22.

With reference now to FIGS. 3-6, the illustrated configuration includesthe controlled deformation portion 26 having a generally “W-shaped”configuration. The controlled deformation portion 26 includes aperforated line 60 with an intermittent connector 62 spaced along theperforated line 60. It is generally contemplated that an occupant seatedin the vehicle seating assembly 10 during a rear collision event will bethrust into the seat 14 and the seatback 18, and that the hips andbuttocks of the occupant may be pushed rearward under force of the rearcollision impact, such that the buttocks and hips of the occupant pushthe controlled deformation portion 26 rearwardly relative to theseatback 18. It is generally contemplated that the flaps 29 of thecontrolled deformation portion 26 may expand rearward at theintermittent connectors 62, or may be expanded backward if theintermittent connectors 62 break. As with the previous configurations,it is generally contemplated that the controlled deformation portion 26may be concealed within a pocket 52 defined by the pocket wall 30, andthat the controlled deformation portion 26 may be in a recess. It isalso generally contemplated, with each of the configurations disclosedherein, that the recess may include an upper tier 80 and a lower tier82, wherein the upper tier 80 is shallower than the lower tier 82. Thecontrolled deformation portion 26 is generally disposed in the lowertier 82 proximate the hips and buttocks of a seated occupant andproximate the knees of an occupant seated behind the vehicle seatingassembly 10.

With each of the configurations disclosed herein, it is generallycontemplated that the controlled deformation portion 26 is also designedto deform inwardly into the seat 14 during a front impact collisionevent, such that the knees of an occupant seated behind the vehicleseating assembly 10 can be thrust into the controlled deformationportion 26, thereby expanding the flaps 29 into the vehicle seatingassembly 10, or breaking the flaps 29 at the intermittent connectors 62,again resulting in the flaps 29 pushing into the vehicle seatingassembly 10.

With reference now to FIG. 7, another configuration of the controlleddeformation portion 26 is illustrated that includes the rupture line 28having a thin contoured line 100 defined in the recessed portion 24 ofthe hard back panel 22. The thin contoured line 100 includes a generally“W-shaped” configuration and is, like the previous configuration,configured to allow the buttocks and hips of an occupant in the vehicleseating assembly 10 to push the controlled deformation portion 26rearward, allowing expansion of the controlled deformation portion 26 atthe thin contoured lines 100, or even breakage of the controlleddeformation portion 26 at the thin contoured lines 100. The thincontoured lines 100 of the controlled deformation portion 26 generallydefine the flaps 29. During a rear collision event, one or both of theflaps 29 may expand rearwardly, resulting in expansion of the thincontoured line 100, or even breakage of the thin contoured line 100,which pushes the flaps 29 rearward relative to the seatback 18. As shownin FIG. 7, it is generally contemplated that the controlled deformationportion 26 may be concealed by a pocket wall 110. It is generallyunderstood that the pocket wall 110 defines a pocket 112 between a rearsurface 114 of the back panel 22 and an inner surface 116 of the pocketwall 110. The pocket wall 110 may be relatively stiff, or flexible clothor polymeric material extending over the controlled deformation portion26. Regardless, the pocket wall 110 generally consists of a materialthat will allow for expansion of the controlled deformation portion 26rearward. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the controlled deformation portion26 may be coupled with the back panel 22 via welding, including sonic orthermal welding, by adhesive, or fasteners. Alternatively, thecontrolled deformation portion 26 may be an integral part of the hardback panel 22.

With reference again to FIGS. 6-8, it is also contemplated that thecontrolled deformation portion 26 provides a benefit to a seatedoccupant located behind the vehicle seating assembly 10. Specifically, aseated occupant located behind the vehicle seating assembly 10 willbenefit from the controlled deformation portion 26 when a front impactcollision occurs, which thrusts the occupant seated behind the vehicleseating assembly 10 forward into the back panel 22 of the vehicleseating assembly 10. The back panel 22 includes the controlleddeformation portion 26, which is generally positioned at a locationproximate the rear occupant's knees. Consequently, when a frontcollision occurs, the knees of the rear occupant are thrust into thecontrolled deformation portion 26, thereby expanding the controlleddeformation portion 26 at the thin contoured line 100, or even breakingthe controlled deformation portion 26 at the thin contoured line 100,thereby pushing the flaps 29 into the seatback 18. In either instance,the knees of the rear occupant are slowly stopped over a largerdistance, thereby minimizing the likelihood of injury to the knees orlegs of the rear occupant.

With reference now to FIG. 10, one configuration of the controlleddeformation portion 26 is illustrated that includes a weakened area 200proximate a vertically lower, and horizontally central region 202 of theback panel 22. The controlled deformation portion 26 of FIG. 10 isconfigured to allow the hips and buttocks of an occupant in the seat 14to expand the controlled deformation portion 26, pushing the controlleddeformation portion 26 rearward relative to the seatback 18.Consequently, the hips and buttocks of an occupant is allowed a greaterdistance to travel before stopping during a rear impact collision eventinvolving the vehicle 12.

With reference now to FIGS. 11 and 12, This area of the back panel 22,and specifically the controlled deformation portion 26, may beintegrally formed into the back panel 22, or may be secured with theback panel 22 via fastener apertures 203 disposed about a periphery ofthe recessed portion 24 (FIG. 12). In addition, as illustrated in FIG.11, a pocket wall 204 may be disposed over the thin weakened area 200that generally defines the controlled deformation portion 26 to define apocket 206. An additional benefit of the controlled deformation portion26 is that an occupant disposed behind the vehicle seating assembly 10during a front impact collision will benefit from a less rigid structureof the back panel 22. More specifically, the controlled deformationportion 26 allows the knees of an occupant seated behind the vehicleseating assembly 10 to be thrust into the controlled deformation portion26 of the back panel 22, providing a soft stop of the occupant's knees,without the abrupt stop that might otherwise occur if the hard backpanel 22 was more rigid at the controlled deformation portion 26. It isgenerally contemplated, with regard to this configuration, that theoccupant seated behind the vehicle seating assembly 10 would force thecontrolled deformation portion 26 of the back panel 22 into the seatback18 of the vehicle seating assembly 10 with the occupant's knees, therebycreating a bulbous deformed portion that extends into the vehicleseating assembly 10. As a result of this construction, the knees of theoccupant are less likely to be injured.

It will be understood that the various configurations, as disclosedherein, have common features and components. It will also be understoodthat for those features that are not common among the variousconfigurations, different reference numerals will signify those aspectsof the various configurations.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art thatconstruction of the described disclosure and other components is notlimited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of thedisclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety ofmaterials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of itsforms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining oftwo components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to oneanother. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature.Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical ormechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the twocomponents. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removableor releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement ofthe elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the presentinnovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example,elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple partsor elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, theoperation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, thelength or width of the structures and/or members or connector or otherelements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustmentpositions provided between the elements may be varied. It should benoted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may beconstructed from any of a wide variety of materials that providesufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors,textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present innovations.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired andother exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of thepresent innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps withindescribed processes may be combined with other disclosed processes orsteps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. Theexemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrativepurposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can bemade on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing fromthe concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to beunderstood that such concepts are intended to be covered by thefollowing claims unless these claims by their language expressly stateotherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seating assembly for a vehicle comprising: aseat including a seat cushion assembly; a seatback pivotally coupledwith the seat and including a seatback cushion assembly; and a polymerichard back panel operably coupled with the seatback and comprising: arecessed portion; and a controlled deformation portion including arupture line configured to split during a rear impact collision of saidvehicle, resulting in flaps of the controlled deformation portionextending rearward relative to the seatback, wherein the controlleddeformation portion is generally concealed from rearward view by apocket wall.
 2. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the ruptureline is generally defined by a thin contoured line integrally formedinto the hard back panel.
 3. The seating assembly of claim 1, whereinthe rupture line includes a perforated line including intermittentconnectors spaced along the perforated line.
 4. The seating assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the recessed portion includes an upper tier and a lowertier, wherein the upper tier is shallower than the lower tier, andwherein the controlled deformation portion is disposed in the lowertier.
 5. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a pocketdefined by a pocket wall operably coupled with a rear side of the hardback panel.
 6. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the rupture lineincludes a generally W-shaped configuration.
 7. A vehicle seatingassembly comprising: a frame; a seat operably coupled with the frame andincluding a seat cushion assembly; a seatback pivotally coupled with theseat and including a seatback cushion assembly disposed over a forwardportion of the frame; and a back panel operably coupled with a rearportion of the frame, the back panel comprising: an upper aestheticportion; and a controlled deformation portion including a rupture line.8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the rupture line isgenerally defined by a thin contoured line integrally formed into theback panel.
 9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein therupture line includes a perforated line including intermittentconnectors spaced along the perforated line.
 10. The vehicle seatingassembly of claim 7, further comprising: a pocket defined by a pocketwall operably coupled with a rear side of the back panel.
 11. Thevehicle seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a recess,wherein the controlled deformation portion is at least partiallydisposed in the recess.
 12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7,wherein the rupture line includes a generally W-shaped configuration.13. A vehicle seating assembly comprising: a seat including a seatcushion assembly; a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat andincluding a seatback cushion assembly; and a back panel operably coupledwith the seatback and comprising: an intermediate recessed portion; anupper aesthetic portion; and a controlled deformation portion includinga rupture line, wherein the controlled deformation portion is generallyconcealed from rearward view by a pocket wall.
 14. The vehicle seatingassembly of claim 13, wherein the rupture line is generally defined by athin contoured line integrally formed into the back panel.
 15. Thevehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein the rupture line includesa perforated line including intermittent connectors spaced along theperforated line.
 16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, furthercomprising: a pocket defined by a pocket wall operably coupled with arear side of the back panel.
 17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim13, further comprising: a recess, wherein the controlled deformationportion is at least partially disposed in the recess.
 18. The vehicleseating assembly of claim 17, wherein the recess includes an upper tierand a lower tier, wherein the upper tier is shallower than the lowertier, and wherein the controlled deformation portion is disposed in thelower tier.
 19. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein therupture line includes a generally W-shaped configuration.